When Star Nursery set out to improve their human resources and payroll systems, it wasn’t just about finding new software, it was about solving real, everyday problems that impacted their people.
A long-standing retail plant nursery with about 16 locations across Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, Star Nursery has grown steadily over its 40-year history. What began with a founder selling plants out of the back of a truck has evolved into a multi-state operation selling everything from greenery to aggregate rock (a necessity in drought-prone Las Vegas) and operating a full trucking fleet. Internally, they jokingly refer to themselves as a “trucking department that sells plants.”
With around 700 employees, and counting, Star Nursery knew they needed a system that could grow with them. What they didn’t expect was how transformative the process would become.
That transformation was made possible with the guidance of HRchitect, who led the implementation of UKG’s powerful HCM platform. With their expert support, Star Nursery didn’t just fix what wasn’t working—they streamlined operations, improved compliance, and elevated the employee experience across all 16 locations.
Bonnie Tinder, Founder and CEO of Raven Intelligence, sat down with Laureen Iannucci, Director of Human Resources at Star Nursery, and Ryan Gillen, Senior UKG Pro Implementation Consultant at HRchitect, for a behind-the-scenes look at their journey.
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The Right Support at the Right Time
As the head of all things people—hiring, payroll, benefits, employee relations, and compliance—Laureen’s top priority was accuracy. And their old system simply wasn’t cutting it.
“We were facing significant payroll issues,” she shared. “In a state like Nevada with unique labor requirements, you have to get payroll right. It was clear we needed a change.”
With nearly a decade of experience implementing UKG solutions, Ryan Gillen, Senior UKG Pro Implementation Consultant at HRchitect, was ready to guide Star Nursery through the transition.
“I’ve worked with UKG for nearly a decade,” Ryan said. “Helping Star Nursery through this transition was something I was excited to be a part of.”
The collaboration was hands-on and personal, especially during the early days. Despite launching the new system in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Star Nursery’s demand was booming, Ryan and Laureen stayed closely connected.
From Fixing Issues to Building a Future
What started as a mission to fix payroll quickly evolved into a full-scale digital transformation. Once the basics were in place, the team began expanding their use of UKG.
“We went from payroll to benefits enrollment, a paperless new hire packet, and better reporting,” Laureen shared. “HRchitect has been there every step of the way.”
One of the biggest wins? Going (almost) completely paperless. “We used to have an 81-page new hire packet,” Laureen said. “Now it’s digital—and way more efficient.”
They also created custom reports to track employee certifications and compliance. “Ryan and HRchitect helped us build a report that shows who’s certified for what, like drug testing or training,” she explained. “It’s helped us stay organized and compliant, which is huge.”
The innovation hasn’t stopped. Star Nursery is now working with HRchitect on a custom pay structure for drivers that will allow them to import productivity time into the payroll system.
Why the Partnership Works
For Ryan, the secret to a smooth implementation, at Star Nursery or anywhere else, is simple: it’s all about flexibility and trust.
“Star Nursery’s team has been incredibly open to collaboration,” he said. “They’ve trusted us to bring in the right people at the right time and adapt as their needs have changed.”
For Laureen, HRchitect has become more than a consulting partner. “They’re an extension of our team,” she said. “We know we can count on them to help us grow, solve problems, and keep improving.” In fact, Star Nursery named Ryan their Employee of the Year—a rare honor for someone outside the company.
A Roadmap for Other Organizations
Star Nursery’s journey is proof that HCM transformation isn’t just about choosing the right software, it’s about finding the right people to guide the process.
Laureen emphasized that for organizations starting their own search, it’s crucial to connect with others who are already using the platform in a similar way. Learning how the system performs in real-world scenarios can offer valuable insights, especially when it comes to functionality, support, and day-to-day operations. It’s also wise to go beyond the standard references—asking who stopped using the product and why can reveal red flags or highlight challenges that may be relevant. For Star Nursery, speaking with peers in their industry and region helped ensure they chose a solution that was not only capable, but a true fit for their needs.
From fixing payroll to building a fully digital HR experience, their story shows what’s possible when partnership and flexibility are at the center of a project.
For other businesses ready to take on their own transformation, this team offers a simple but powerful message: with the right support, even the biggest HR challenges can become opportunities for growth.
About HRchitect
As UKG’s 2023 Partner of the Year and the only five-time recipient of this prestigious award, HRchitect stands as a trusted leader in the world of UKG implementations. With a specialized team of over 100 consultants spanning the U.S. and Canada, we bring unmatched expertise to organizations utilizing UKG Pro, UKG Pro WFM (formerly Dimensions), UKG TeleStaff, and UKG Ready.
Learn more about HRchitect on their Raven profile.
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About Raven Intelligence
Raven Intelligence is a free, online community to help Enterprise Software customers independently find their perfect Consulting partner. Raven consolidates the options in a single place–across all major cloud software platforms. It helps customers who are in a software selection process search and engage the best partners. It gives Consultants a place to promote their certifications and cloud project success and find customers looking for what they do best. While we work closely with software vendors, we have no affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement from them.